Player Rebuffers MBR Content on Initial Connection

• Microsoft Windows Media Services version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows Media Player versions 5.2, 6.0, 6.1, 6.4

SYMPTOMS

When connecting the Windows Media Player to a Windows Media Server to play multi-bitrate content over a modem such as a 28.8 Kbps modem, the player will connect to the server, buffer, play briefly, rebuffer, and then play appropriately.

CAUSE

The low bandwidth template in the Windows Media Encoder contains several target bit-rates: 22, 27, 32, 37, and 42 Kbps. When connecting with the Windows Media Player over a 28.8 Kbps modem, the player detects the modem speed through telephony API (TAPI). It attempts to play the highest bandwidth stream that fits for the modem speed. The 27-Kbps bandwidth is lower than 28.8, so modem clients first try to play the 27-Kbps file. This overflows the modem and causes the player to rebuffer and eventually switch down to the 22-Kbps stream. Because there is overhead for all network traffic, 22 Kbps is an appropriate bandwidth for 28.8-Kbps connections.

WORKAROUND

When using multi-bitrate settings in the Windows Media Encoder for low bandwidth, set the bit rates to 22, 29, 34, 37, and 57 Kbps instead of the defaults listed in the Cause section of this article.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows Media Services version 4.0.

Additional query words: netshow wms wmp

Keywords : kbDSupport
Version : :4.0; WINDOWS:5.2,6.0,6.1,6.4
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug